The 2017 season marks the first year of the Lakes Valley Conference, a collection of nine teams that departed the KLAA to begin their own conference. The Lakes Valley Conference features Walled Lake Western, the 2016 Division 2 runner-up. Many will be eager to try and spoil their plans to become the first conference champion, including rivals Walled Lake Northern and Walled Lake Central. Waterford Mott, Waterford Kettering, South Lyon, South Lyon East, Lakeland and Milford are also in the mix. Here’s a closer look at each team for the new season.

LAKELAND

Head coach: Joe Woodruff, third seasons (9-9 overall)

Last year: 5-4, 1-4 KLAA North

Key returners: Sr. OL Alex Laverenz; Sr. OL Ryan Allen; Sr. RB/DB Luke Perry; Sr. RB/DB Dylan Kutzleb; Sr. RB/DB Joe Rzeppa; Sr. RB/DB Nick Dell; Sr. RB/DB Dylan Kubik; Sr. RB/LB Sean Cullen; Sr. RB/LB CJ Davis

Strengths: Experience, especially in the secondary and in the backfield

Areas of concern: Depth behind the starting lineup

Overview: Lakeland is a team to keep an eye on for 2017 in this new conference. The Eagles were unbeaten at the junior varsity and freshman level in 2016 and now bring that winning experience to the varsity level. Lakeland saw its four conference losses in 2016 all come by less than 10 points, so they aren’t far from turning the corner.

 

MILFORD

Head coach: Daniel Novak, first season

Last year: 2-7, 0-5 KLAA West

Key returners: Sr. Ryan Kolb; Sr. Dominic Benaglio; Sr. Dawson Benaglio; Sr. Brian Gorny; Sr. Noah Poser; Sr. Brendan Marquis; Sr. Colin Myers; Sr. Brandon Gollan; Sr. Aiden Warzecha

Strengths: Coaching team, desire to turn program around

Areas of concern: Learning to overcome adversity and develop into a winning team

Overview: Milford is using a new slogan under first-year coach Daniel Novak. It is “Be The Change.” The Mavericks are coming off a total of five wins in the last four years combined. In order for Milford to get the change it is looking for, they will have to step up on defense. Milford gave up an average of 30.1 points per game last season. They enter this new Lakes Valley Conference with nothing to lose.

 

SOUTH LYON

Head coach: Jeff Henson, 2nd season

Last year: 5-5 (3-2 in KLAA Central)

Key players: Ian Goins, Will Kelley, Ryan Gill, Ben Buchler, Trevor Weiss

Strengths: Running game, offensive line

Areas of concern: Lost large senior class

Overview: South Lyon snuck into the playoffs with a 5-4 regular season record a year ago and very nearly upset eventual state runner-up Walled Lake Western in the opening round, losing by a single point. The Lions will have some new division rivals in 2017 as one of just two teams that departed the KLAA Central Division for the LVC. South Lyon will visit Walled Lake Northern in Week 1.

 

SOUTH LYON EAST

Head coach: Joe Pesci, third season (2-16 overall)

Last year: 1-8, 0-5 KLAA Central

Key returners: Jr. QB Chris Kaminski; Jr. DB/WR John Carter; Jr. WR/FS James Michael; Sr. RB/OLB Jake Waranauckas

Strengths: Returning skill-position players and majority of the secondary

Areas of concern: Team speed and depth

Overview: The change to the Lakes Valley Conference could help South Lyon East as much as anyone. The Cougars were playing much bigger schools in the KLAA and now face teams a little more comparative in enrollment. South Lyon East has struggled since going 5-5 in 2012, as the Cougars have won just three games in the last four years. Things should be more competitive this season behind some key returning players and a more reasonable conference schedule.

 

WALLED LAKE CENTRAL

Head coach: Bob Meyer, 13th season (64-68 overall)

Last year: 3-6 (2-3 in KLAA North)

Key players: QB/S Michael Woolridge, RB/LB Joey Brincat, RB/LB Tyler Markray, OG Mason Clark, OL Joe Bonnen, OL Max Heckmann, Nick Onwenu, Colton Plantz, Connor Merchant, WR Devin Carter

Strengths: Senior leadership, running game, offensive line

Overview: Walled Lake Central has been absent from the postseason since 2014, but will return a number of experienced players for its first season in the Lakes Valley Conference. The team will rely on its ground game and hope to be involved in fewer high-scoring shootout-type games in 2017. The Vikings will face Lakeland to begin the season.

 

WALLED LAKE NORTHERN

Head coach: Joe Boulus, first season

Last year: 6-4, 3-2 KLAA North

Key returners: Sr. OL/DL Tommy Larson; Sr. DB Peter Jezdmir; Sr. DB Carson Haslinger; Sr. RB Chandler Holloway; Sr. DL Shane Landino; Sr. RB Reece Moran; Sr. OL Marco Savone; Sr. LB Dominic Yamarino; Sr. LB Ryan Grundy; Sr. LB Phil Grundy; Jr. DB Chad Burton; Jr. OL/DL Tyler Devon; Jr. QB Brenden Shelby; Jr. RB Cam Liebzeit; Soph. OL/DL Kyle Arnoldi

Strengths: Defensive secondary and running backs

Areas of concern: Depth at the offensive and defensive lines, replacing college-level kicker.

Overview: Boulus takes over as head coach but has been an assistant for the Knights. Northern has made the playoffs the last two years but not been able to get a victory. Always a high-powered offense, the Knights are hoping their defense can continue to improve as they look to claim the first-ever Lakes Valley Conference title.

 

WALLED LAKE WESTERN

Head coach: Mike Zdebski, 20th season (151-57 overall)

Last year: 12-2 (5-0 in KLAA North)

Key players: Zak Kempster, Jon Moffett, Ben Reilly, Randall Harris, Ryan Dickinson, Dylan McGorisk, Sam Johnson, Spencer Brown, Malcolm Brown, Justin Thomas, Abdur Rahmann-Yaseen, Joey George

Strengths: Offensive line, linebacker, depth and experience

Overview: Walled Lake Western is coming off of another successful season that fell one game short of a Division 2 state title. The program will have to replace several all-state performers, but has talented incoming players to fill gaps. Two high-profile transfers, quarterback Sam Johnson and offensive tackle Spencer Brown (Michigan State), should ensure the team’s explosive offense remains intact in 2017. The Warriors won four-straight KLAA North Division titles, which likely makes them the team to beat in the new, similar-looking LVC conference. Western will open the season with a big Week 1 test against West Bloomfield.

 

WATERFORD KETTERING

Head coach: Kenny Schmidt, first season

Last year: 3-6, 2-3 KLAA North

Key returners: Jr. QB Ryan Nolan; Sr. RB/LB Tanner Steward; Sr. WR/DB Anthony Fox; Sr. OL Ayden Holley

Strengths: Depth and growing program numbers, talent at the skill positions

Areas of concern: Improving on the offensive and defensive lines

Overview: Kettering brings back a lot of players from the 2016 season for its first year in the Lakes Valley Conference. That could make the Captains a dangerous team to contend with. Kettering is just two seasons removed from back-to-back winning season and new coach Kenny Schmidt is looking to lead the program back to the postseason. If the line play can improve throughout the season, the Captains will be a tough team to beat.

 

WATERFORD MOTT

Head coach: Chris Fahr, sixth season (23-23 overall)

Last year: 6-5, 2-3 KLAA North

Key returners: LB Luciano Pedini; QB David McCullum; LB Colton Baranowski; DB Key Fields; WR Matt Bradley; OL/DL Bryce Locke; OL/DL Wayne Barnes; WR/DB Pat Bicknell; RB Marcus Guerrero; OL/DL James Vaughn

Strengths: Leadership and work ethic

Areas of concern: Developing depth

Overview: Mott has had three straight winnings seasons for the first time since 1973. The Corsairs enter the new Lakes Valley Conference feeling like they can be a contender behind a veteran quarterback and high-powered offense. Mott has scored over 300 points the last three years, the key to taking the next step will be improving on their defensive totals.